A Bigger Understanding (Wisdom of the 12-Steps)

Bottom line: the “12-Steps of Recovery” encompass the change/growth process.

I'm a "lumper."

Way back when, during my undergraduate studies, an anthropology professor told my class, "Some are lumpers and some are splitters," referring to anthropologists in general. I knew immediately I was a "lumper." I see parallels and look for similarities, overlap and common threads.

Over time I’ve come to appreciate the simplicity, integrity and non-judgemental nature of the 12-Steps of Recovery. I'm struck by their universality of application and scope in daily human struggle. In a sense, they are a western how-to version of Buddha’s tenet regarding suffering. That is, in short: 1) all suffering is derived from desire; and 2) let go of desire to attain inner peace (by utilizing appropriate tools). Both encompass spirituality, an underlying human need for connection to the “bigger picture.”

I’ve never practiced the 12-Steps officially as a recovering individual. I learned them as a licensed therapist working in the drug/alcohol recovery field over twenty-five years. I attended numerous 12-Step meetings working with those in recovery and observed the steps in action. I exchanged ideas and shared with colleagues in various drug treatment settings. And I lectured about the 12-Steps as applied to co-dependency.

I don’t claim to be an expert in recovery, but am an expert in my life, which includes what I’ve learned about myself in relationship to the 12-Steps. I've personally practiced the 12-Steps over time. I participated in staff self-assessment groups in two residential drug/alcohol treatment settings. I sought personal counseling, overcame suicidal thoughts and low self-esteem. I participated in Est, “human potentials” training seminars created by Werner Erhard, which reinforced my self-acceptance.

Thus, I’ve experienced the 12-Steps from “both sides,” and having participated in therapy sessions as a practitioner and client, I can say in hindsight that my healing has followed the 12-Step path.

Aristotle said, “Man is by nature a social animal. . . .” Beyond that, and I’m positive that I’m not alone, I define humans as “spiritual” animals. We have a need to understand our existence, including our place in the scheme of life and the world/universe.

Though the “identified problem” varies among individuals, the 12-Steps (utilized by 12-Step programs) foster a deeper understanding, increased emotional balance and enhances “spirituality,” which to me looks no different than the goals and outcome of therapy/counseling.

Photo Credit: Hubble Space Telescope

Muddled Mind in Search of Clarity

Upping the ante . . . with a sense of humor.

As a writer this cartoon speaks to me.

I find humor an important tool in recovery from my trials and tribulations. Humor lifts me, shifts my mood gears, reminds me not to take myself too seriously. Through writing I embrace my deeper self, that creative well-spring within, and thus challenge, explore and expand my boundaries. The following words highlight my quest to go beyond the common, usual words of conversation, and expand myself with an expanded vocabulary.

The essential nature of a living entity, I say . . . is to interact with its surroundings,

whether in manipulating the inert environment or dancing with other living beings, be they

like or unlike. By analogy, the essential nature of a writer is to interact with fellow humans via

written word in a clear manner.

In my quest as a writer thus—my motivation to commit to print not always clear to me, though I accept this endeavor a function of my journey—I mentioned a list of words, often shunned “in the biz,” to other writers in discourse.

As I would have it, a connection occurred to me, a previous unconsidered idea. To wit, what if I eliminated those words from my spoken vocabulary? And by extension, wipe them from my mental slate . . . as possible? Strike the passive ones, and those words which are stale and tired from overuse, alone or coupled in their contexts . . . as well as those adorned with a cheap bauble? Abandon use of those words, along with their formulated phrases, with their weakened connotations and inferences, conveying a drab rendition of clothing or unkempt hair paraded in the presence of others? Lazy words doing our better selves injustice by failing to enrich?

Each of us guilty in our “day-to-day” dealings, I suspect.

Here are a few aforementioned offenders:

is; be; has; can; could; do; “a bit”; just; must; so; should;

even; am; being; have; then; it; was; would; with; almost;

some; that; thing; been; had; might; shall; and; sudden; very;

as; were; are; may; “-ly endings”

To clarify, I am not advocating condemning these words to nonexistence, for we can't do without use of these staples of our vocabulary. Every word serves a purpose, else why would it exist? I am, however, advocating for communication in fresh ways, more engaging of our attention.

Ain't easy. Yet, I’ll endeavor to practice what I preach, bearing in mind not to let the “perfect be an enemy of the good.”

Bottom line: Work to improve yourself, learn and experience something positive and new every day.

Hint: Keep a thesaurus handy . . . though be forewarned of an expanding vocabulary and shifts in perspective.

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* This post updated from its original which appeared on Primate's Big Adventures.

Photo Credit: sadanduselss.com and eatliver.com